Corporate Members First Birthday

Corporate Members First Birthday

The Holburne’s Corporate Membership scheme celebrates its first birthday with Ed Vaizey, the Minister for Culture, Communications and Creative industries

On Friday 8 April the Holburne invited its growing group of Corporate Members to celebrate the scheme’s first birthday and to meet Ed Vaizey MP and Don Foster MP as part of a private tour of the Holburne ahead of the Museum’s much anticipated re-opening on Saturday 14 May.

Centre: Don Foster, Xa Sturgis, Ed Vaizey and David Posnett with the Holburne Corporate Members Photo by Cardwell

In these challenging economic times it is more important than ever to strengthen the links between arts organisations and the local business community.

Mr Vaizey said: “Jeremy Hunt has designated 2011 a year of corporate philanthropy – an opportunity to shine a light on those businesses which already support good causes and to encourage others to support culture. Philanthropy is not just about multi-million pound gifts to national museums, but also about harnessing corporate giving to smaller museums and galleries, particularly those outside London.

“Any innovative way of increasing business support for culture should be celebrated and I hope that others will be inspired by the Holburne’s corporate membership scheme. This is a great opportunity to support local culture and I would urge more businesses in the Bath areas to sign up.”

The Museum’s Director, Alexander Sturgis commented: “We know how essential it is to establish a strong relationship with the local business community to encourage them to use, interact with and invest in the Museum.

Even though we have been closed and despite the current financial climate we took the bold step of launching a corporate membership scheme last year and are thrilled that 21 businesses signed up in our first year. These businesses recognise that our scheme offers an exceptional opportunity for networking and a chance to engage with the Holburne at one of the most exciting times in our history.”

Now, with the doors due to open in May, the Holburne is encouraging other business in the region to join the scheme, which provides an invaluable regular contribution to the Holburne’s community and learning programmes. It also offers fantastic networking events in the beautiful new galleries and opportunities to engage with the Museum’s other supporters and donors.

Zenith International, a leading food and drink industry consultancy whose clients include Nestlé and Coca-Cola, is the Holburne’s most recent Corporate Member. Zenith Chairman Richard Hall commented: “The Holburne Museum is one of those places that make Bath and its quality of life so special, among the very best in the world. In our 20th anniversary year, adding our support as a Holburne Corporate Member seemed an excellent way to reinvest in the city’s cultural legacy.”

Members of the scheme, regardless of business size or sector, receive the same benefits and opportunities. The cost is £500 for businesses with an annual turnover of under £1m, £1,000 for companies with a turnover of £1m-£3m, and £1,500 for those with an annual turnover of over £3m.

To become a Corporate Member call Marnie Whiting on or visit www.holburne.org/business

The Holburne Museum is currently closed for a development project of restoration and extension. Our Grade I listed home is being lovingly restored while a striking extension designed by Eric Parry faces Sydney Gardens behind the Museum. Our project is supported by a grant of £4.6million from The Heritage Lottery Fund and many other trusts, foundations and donors. In addition to our endowment we have raised £10million and have £1million left to raise before we re-open our doors to the public free of charge on 14 May 2011.

When we re-open the Holburne will house a collection of fine and decorative arts, built around the exquisite art collection of Sir William Holburne assembled in 19th-century Bath. We hold a nationally significant collection of paintings, Renaissance bronzes and maiolica, silver, sculpture, furniture and porcelain, including important and popular works by Brueghel, Gainsborough, Stubbs and Turner. In recent years we have also established a national reputation for imaginative, scholarly and popular exhibitions

The Holburne’s project transforms what we are able to offer all our visitors. It will make us fully accessible to all visitors for the first time, allow more of our collection to be displayed than ever before and enable us to stage far more ambitious exhibitions, offer a garden café, creative learning opportunities for all ages and a family friendly environment. www.holburne.org

The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) enables communities to celebrate, look after and learn more about our diverse heritage. From our great museums and historic buildings to local parks and beauty spots or recording and celebrating traditions, customs and history, HLF grants open up our nation’s heritage for everyone to enjoy. Since 1994 it has supported more than 26,000 projects, allocating over £4 billion across the UK. www.hlf.org.uk